FR2684926A1 - PROCESS FOR PRINTING DRAWINGS OR BINDINGS ON A CONCRETE SURFACE AND MATRIX FOR TRANSFERRING DRAWINGS OR SCULPTURES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROCESS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for printing designs or reliefs on a concrete surface which comprises the steps of preparing a design transfer matrix (1) releasably carrying a multiplicity of grains or granules with aesthetic effect (6) distributed at its surface, pouring the concrete against the effective surface of the matrix and detaching the latter from the dried and hardened concrete to transfer and drown the aesthetic effect granules on the concrete surface, these aesthetic effect granules being grains coming from natural rocks , coated with cement powder. A transfer matrix for drawings or sculptures (1) carrying aesthetic effect granules (6), previously coated with a cement powder, distributed on its surface according to a predetermined drawing.

Description

PROCESS FOR PRINTING DRAWINGS OR RELIEFS ON A

  CONCRETE SURFACE AND DRAWING TRANSFER MATRIX OR

  SCULPTURES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROCESS

  The present invention relates to a method for creating or printing shapes, designs or reliefs on a concrete surface and to a transfer matrix of

  drawings or sculptures for the implementation of the process.

  Up to now, for the printing of sculptures or relief drawings on a concrete surface, we have used the following process: we first set up a printing blank or matrix in rigid polyurethane (matrix of transfer of drawings) 12, as shown in FIG. 5 This transfer matrix 12 has a transfer surface called effective surface 13 constituted by a three-dimensional design with aesthetic effect and a flat bearing surface 14 On the site or in workshop, a release agent is applied to the transfer surface 13 and the

  matrix 12 thus treated is placed in a space-

  ment given in relation to a formwork 16 Then, the side openings (not shown) and the bottom opening between the formwork 16 and the matrix 12 are closed using boards 17 and concrete 15 is poured through the opening from above The concrete is then allowed to dry and harden so as to obtain a concrete plate or structure 18 As shown in FIG. 7, the matrix 12 is then detached from the concrete 18 The surface of the concrete 18 thus obtained has the drawing or relief sculpture of the matrix 12 copied onto its surface Finally, we finish this sculpted concrete surface by spraying for example a composition of

  suitable coating to give it a natural look.

  However, since the coating material used in the above process is usually an organic composition and the organic coating film tends to discolor or fade or to deteriorate over time, the surface concrete cannot be as resistant over time as the surface, for example of a masonry work made from inorganic materials (such as for example a construction in natural stones) In addition, it will be necessary from time to time to apply a new layer and maintenance costs and

  renovations are important.

  To overcome these drawbacks, it has been proposed to use a transfer matrix or blank carrying natural pebbles or gravel or fragments of glass linked by a water-soluble adhesive substance, to pour the concrete onto this transfer matrix, to remove the matrix of the dried concrete and leave the natural pebbles or similar elements embedded in the concrete and finally, to wash away the water-soluble adhesive substance (Japanese patent, publication Kokai NO 56-169189 / 1981) However, this technique presents the disadvantage that when pouring concrete against the effective surface of the transfer matrix, fine air bubbles remain trapped on the surface of the matrix and produce pits or small cavities on the surface layer of the concrete, thus harming the finish of poured concrete This drawback is particularly noticeable when the surface of the transfer matrix

  has a profiled or wavy configuration.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a process for printing designs or sculptures on a concrete surface, making it possible to produce a colorful, durable and natural-looking texture or design, for example a masonry appearance on concrete, and provide a design transfer matrix for implementation

of the process.

  According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for printing designs or reliefs on a concrete surface according to which a matrix of

  transfer of designs releasably carrying a multi-

  plicity of grains or granules with an aesthetic effect distributed on its surface (hereinafter referred to as "effective surface"), concrete is poured against the effective surface of the matrix and

  detaches the latter from the dried and hardened concrete for transfer

  rer and drown the aesthetic effect granules on the surface of the concrete, these aesthetic effect granules being grains previously coated with cement powder According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a transfer matrix for drawings or sculptures carrying granules releasable aesthetic effect, previously coated with a powder of

  cement, distributed on its surface according to a predetermined route.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a design transfer matrix releasably carrying granules or grains having an aesthetic effect, pretreated with a cement powder and distributed over its surface, is implemented and concrete is poured against the effective or textured surface of the matrix Consequently, even if fine air bubbles are trapped on the surface of the matrix during the casting of the

  concrete, the cement particles with which the granules are coated

  those with an aesthetic effect absorb water and thus cause the destruction of these fine air bubbles This consequently makes it possible to obtain a finished surface of the concrete which is smooth This smoothing effect is particularly pronounced when it is a question of reproduce a ripple on the surface

concrete.

  We will now describe methods of implementation

of the invention in detail.

  In the present invention, use is made of a design transfer matrix carrying granules with an aesthetic effect coated with a cement powder, and optionally with a dye, which is deposited and distributed over its profiled or corrugated surface, so as to transfer the layout whose profile is given to the surface of a poured concrete structure. The granules with an aesthetic effect can for example be ground natural rocks, ceramic grains,

  fragments of glass'etc It is particularly advantageous-

  geux to use fragments of one or more colored stones or natural rocks The average diameter (A) of these granules with aesthetic effect is preferably not more than 5 mm and the particle size is preferably such that the granules in the range O <A_ 0.5 mm represent an amount of 70 to 30% by weight, those in the range of 0.5 <A 52.5 mm from 30 to 70%; and those in the

  range 2.5 <A_ 5 mm from O to 10% by weight.

  The nature of the cement powder which is deposited on the granules with an aesthetic effect does not constitute an essential element for the invention The average diameter of the particles

  cement is generally not more than 0.5 mm, pre-

  ference from 1 to 10 pm and advantageously from 2 to 5 pim La

  cement powder may contain other inorganic matter

  hydroscopic materials such as plaster A powder in which an inorganic material other than

  cement is also acceptable In the context of the invention

  tion, the term cement powder also includes these

types of powders.

  The process for applying such a cement powder to the granules with aesthetic effect does not constitute either an essential criterion for the invention. For example, the granules with aesthetic effect can be slightly moistened beforehand and mixed with a powder of cement or coat the aesthetic effect granules with powder

  cement using a spray nozzle.

  In addition to the application of cement particles, we can also treat the granules with an aesthetic effect if desired with a dye to give the finished concrete surface a more natural or aesthetic appearance.

  dye preferably consists of an inorganic substance

  lasting ganique which is not likely to discolour,

  to pass or degrade, for example metallic oxides,

  such as Fe 203, Cr O 3 etc. The dye is preferably used in combination with three or more different species to reproduce a concrete surface with the appearance

  speckled or mottled imitating natural rock or similar.

  The average diameter of the coloring matter particles is

advantageously from 0.5 to 1 μm.

  The process of applying dye to granules

  the aesthetic effect is also not an essential element for the invention. For example, we can give the aesthetic effect granules a surface static charge under rotation at high speed and deposit the dye on the charged surfaces. The pattern transfer matrix carrying these aesthetic effect granules can be made of rigid polyurethane foam for example This rigid polyurethane foam matrix has a pattern transfer surface which comes into contact with concrete to reproduce the shape on the surface of concrete and has a flat support surface To produce this pattern transfer matrix, a liquid urethane foam molding composition is poured into a metal mold whose internal surface is of configuration complementary to the shape to be reproduced and allowed to dry. the composition in the mold which comprises a core layer of cellular resin and a profiled or corrugated surface comprising an external film

  dense incorporated into the foam This external film incorporates

  porée au mousse is substantially free of air bubbles,

  and it is very dense and smooth The ripple mentioned above

  above the pattern transfer matrix is formed on the smooth surface of the outer film incorporated in the foam. On this corrugated or profiled surface of the pattern transfer matrix are distributed the aesthetic effect granules which are coated with cement powder, as well as dye if desired. Usually, the aesthetic effect granules are deposited by means of a binder or an adhesive substance The binder or the adhesive substance intended for this operation is preferably a binder or an adhesive substance whose adhesion strength is reduced or eliminated by water, alkaline substances and / or

  analogous substances in concrete As adhesive substances

  with an adhesion force reduced or eliminated by

  water in concrete, we can mention the substances adhered

  sives based on polyvinyl alcohol or methylcellulose, water glass etc. As adhesive substances or binders whose adhesion strength is reduced or eliminated by an alkaline product in concrete, mention may be made of

  adhesive substances based on acrylic resin For repair-

  shooting of the aesthetic effect granules through this binder or this adhesive substance on the design transfer matrix, the aesthetic effect granules can be spread along a predetermined path on the matrix and apply a solution of the binder on the matrix in the form of a nebulate or spray or process; it is also possible to first apply a layer of binder on the surface of the matrix and distribute the colored granules according to a predetermined pattern so that they can be locked in position by the adhesive force of the binder layer. This operation

  can be followed by pressing the die so as to

  partially or completely ber the grains in the layer

  binder It is also possible to use paraff-

  fine, clay, rubber or resin instead of the binder In these cases, the aesthetic effect granules are distributed first according to a predetermined pattern and, if necessary, they are partially drowned When the effective surface of the matrix of transfer of drawings has bonding properties, it is not necessary to use a binder

or a similar product.

  According to one aspect of the present invention using a drawing transfer matrix as described above, a relief drawing is reproduced imitating the appearance of a masonry work in natural stones or rocks on the surface of the concrete. pour the concrete on the effective surface of the design transfer matrix, let it dry and harden, then detach the matrix from the concrete surface. By this series of operations, the aesthetic effect granules placed on the matrix are transferred and embedded in the surface of the concrete, thus providing the latter with the desired three-dimensional design. The use for fixing the aesthetic effect granules on the matrix of a binder whose adhesion strength is reduced or eliminated by water or by a similar substance in concrete facilitates the separation of the transfer matrix from the concrete surface since the bonding force is attenuated or removed by water or a subs analogous tance during the setting period In this way, the granules with aesthetic effect are transferred and partially or completely embedded in the concrete to produce the desired relief pattern, imitating for example a masonry work in natural stones or rocks In addition, the tiny air bubbles that form on the concrete surface during pouring are removed by the cement powder deposited on the aesthetic granules so that the concrete surface

  is of a very satisfactory appearance, free of pinhole imputa-

  bleed to residual air bubbles.

  We will now describe particular embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a transfer matrix for shapes or drawings according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing a drawing transfer method using this drawing transfer matrix; Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the step of separation of the concrete plate produced; Figure 4 is a schematic view showing by way of example an aesthetic effect granule used according to the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic view showing the conventional drawing transfer matrix; Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the drawing transfer method using the above conventional drawing transfer matrix; Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the step of separation of the concrete plate produced. We will now describe embodiments

  advantageous in detail by referring to the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1

  Figure 1 shows a drawing transfer matrix according to the principles of the invention, the

  transfer of drawings 1 is made of rigid polyurethane foam.

  Like the matrix of the prior art, it consists of an internal layer of foam 2 and an external film 3 incorporated into the foam. A surface 4 of this pattern transfer matrix 1 is a smooth profiled surface while the other surface is a bearing surface

  plate 7 The surface 4 is first coated with an adhered substance

  water-soluble methylcellulose sive to deposit a layer of binder with a thickness of 0.1-5 mm On this layer of

  binder, we glue, by pressure spraying, a multi-

  plicity of granules of a natural colored rock 6 previously

  completely coated with cement powder With the aforementioned pattern transfer matrix 1, a concrete 15 is poured and allowed to dry according to the technique known per se, as shown in FIG. 2 In FIG. 2, a frame of formwork carries the reference numeral 16 and a board of

  closing of this opening, the numerical reference 17.

  Then, as shown in Figure 3, the design transfer matrix 1 is separated from the concrete structure 18 At this stage, since the methylcellulose binder layer 5 is already dissolved in the water contained in the concrete, we can easily detach the matrix 1 The concrete structure thus obtained has a speckled colored surface appearance containing the rock granules

natural with aesthetic effect 6.

EXAMPLE 2

  Except when using an adhesive substance

  acrylic in place of the methyl adhesive substance

  cellulose, we can repeat the process of example 1 to make the pattern transfer matrix With this matrix, we produce a concrete structure of the same

  so that in example 1 the concrete structure includes

  the natural rock granules have a texture of

colored surface imitating marble.

EXAMPLE 3

  A pattern transfer matrix was made in the same manner as in Example 1 except that granules coated with cement powder 10 were used, and as

  as coloring matter a powder of Fe 203 11 having a granu-

  0.8 µm average measurement on natural rock granules

  relle 9 (figure 4) serving as granules with an aesthetic effect 6.

  Thanks to this pattern transfer matrix, we produced a concrete structure having a colored three-dimensional surface containing natural rock granules imitating

the appearance of marble.

  As described above, the method according to the present invention comprises the operations consisting in preparing a pattern transfer matrix carrying a multiplicity of aesthetic effect granules distributed in a predetermined pattern on the surface, in pouring the concrete against the surface and detaching the matrix from the dried concrete to transfer and embed the aesthetically pleasing granules in the concrete, the surface of the pattern transfer matrix

  preferably having a profiled surface and the granules

  aesthetic effect having been previously and optional

  Cement powder and dye coated In the above arrangement, in case tiny air bubbles remain after the concrete has been poured, the cement powder with which the aesthetically pleasing granules are coated will absorb the water and will destroy said bubbles The finished concrete surface is therefore made perfectly smooth This effect is particularly advantageous when it is desired to reproduce a profiled surface on the concrete In addition, with the matrix

  transfer of drawings according to the invention, the operation pro-

  This is in fact facilitated by the transfer of drawings or sculptures. In addition, by previously coating the granules with an aesthetic effect with one or more dyes, it will be possible to reproduce a surface with a natural appearance imitating the

stone or natural rock.

he

Claims (4)

  1 Method for printing drawings or reliefs on a concrete surface, characterized in that: a drawing transfer matrix (1) is prepared, releasably carrying a multiplicity of granules with aesthetic effect (6) on one of its surfaces and concrete is poured against the   pattern transfer matrix surface (1) for transfer   rer the aesthetic effect granules (6) on the surface of the poured concrete and drown or coat them there, the surface of the transfer matrix being in shape and the aesthetic effect granules (6) having been previously coated with cement powder. 2 Process for printing designs or reliefs   on a concrete surface according to claim 1, character-   laughed at in that the aesthetic effect granules (6) are distributed and fixed releasably on the surface of the pattern transfer matrix (1) by means of an adhesive layer (5) whose adhesion strength is reduced by water and / or other constituents of concrete.   3 A method for printing designs or reliefs on a concrete surface according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the aesthetic effect granules (6)   have diameters not greater than 2.5 mm.   4 A method for creating a concrete surface according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the   aesthetic effect granules (6) have been coated with a colo- powdery rant.   Transfer matrix for designs or reliefs, characterized in that it comprises a transfer surface with a shape or undulation and releasably carries granules with aesthetic effect (6) coated with a cement powder.   6 Drawing transfer matrix according to the res   dication 5, characterized in that the effect granules   aesthetic (6) were coated with a powdery dye.